Kirk Cousins Drawing On College Experience To Help With Backup Role On Redskins

Related Tags:

ASHBURN, Va. (CBSDC) — Not surprisingly, Kirk Cousins became the first Washington Redskins rookie quarterback to sign his contract last week. The fourth-round pick out of Michigan State beat Robert Griffin III in getting his first NFL deal done on Thursday.

The 23-year-old from Holland, Mich. took the signing in stride, chalking it up to just another step in his very young pro career.

“It was just important for me to get it done as soon as possible and go on with what’s most important which is learning this offense and being ready to play come the preseason,” Cousins said last week. “I had never signed a professional contract before, so I guess it’s another step in the process of a long dream of becoming a NFL quarterback.”

He’s got the right mentality — another step in becoming an NFL quarterback. There is no doubt Cousins would like the opportunity to be a starting quarterback, but he’s going to have to wait a while longer for that to happen.

After paying a heavy price to acquire the second pick in the draft, including first-round picks for the next two seasons, the Redskins are ready to cash in on their investment and have already anointed RGIII the starting quarterback.

It would take meltdown of catastrophic proportions to bump Cousins to the top of the depth chart.

Still, playing the waiting game and exercising patience are two things Cousins has already become familiar with. He was in a similar role entering college.

“As a freshman at Michigan State I wasn’t the big heralded recruit,” he recalled. “I wasn’t the guy getting a lot of reps. I wasn’t the guy everyone was talking about to be the future quarterback. So, it reminds me of my freshman year of college and it’s something I’ve been through before. And I’m certainly drawing on that experience to have a great first rookie year.”